Wireless doesn't connect if SSID is hidden

[Jeff Schafer]

I have the full release of Windows Vista Enterprise. I am testing on a
Vista-Ready Dell Inspiron 6400. I tried connecting to a WPA Wireless-G
network that has the SSID hidden. I used the manual method of setting up
the connection which included choosing the encryption type, key and the
SSID. Once completing wizard, the connection could not be made, the
wireless network list did not populate with the wireless network...when
trying the wizard again it gives error saying the network with "SSID name"
is already in the list. I was able to successfully connect only when
modifing the wireless access point to not hide the SSID broadcast. Looks to
me like there's a problem with Vista connecting to hidden wireless networks.
I tried on another system as well and had the same problem.

Thanks!
Jeff Schafer

 

[kevin forsythe]

This is NOT a problem in Vista OS
rather the specific driver your using (which YES...was included with Vista
and setup probably automatically installed in your system..)

for example.. I have a Toshiba M400 it has an Intel wireless built in ...
it's using "intel pro /wireless 3945ABG network connection" driver
with that driver I can setup WPA-2 AES with Hidden SSID and it works
flawlessly ... using the vista manual method of setup.

now if I disable that internal wireless and happen to drop in a PCMCIA
Netgear WPN511B (Draft N &G) card which Netgear says the drivers ship with
Vista RTM.
(Vista finds it as "Broadcom 802.11n network adapter" ) your correct if
it's set to Hidden .. then I can't connect..

Who is responsible for fixing this problem?
the reality is that MSFT probably didn't write the actual driver .. it was
the 3rd party.. MS Support commits to supporting whatever ships with the
OS.. If you try to call the 3rd party vendor
sometimes they will take the bug report.. other times they will refer you
back to MS.. in my case above.. it's a generic chipset driver from
Broadcom ... I'm reporting it to everybody MS, Netgear & broadcom

I suspect we are still in the "final beta" phase with the Vista RTM.. code
from Now until Feb 2007... with MS & vendors reviewing the newsgroup
postings
and sometime in 02/2007 we will see a free download on the MS Update
website that will fix the more common issues reported... this is just my
guess.. really the reason why the delay until Jan 30th.. is to give
vendors more time to test drivers etc. as it's impossible to catch every
bug in the lab...

Kevin

 

[Jeff Schafer]

Thanks for your excellant response Kevin! I will try to verify what you
said and post confirmation when I do. I guess that little sticker on the
laptop "Vista Capable" should say "Almost Vista Capable"

Thanks again!

Jeff Schafer

 

[Richard G. Harper]

This is not a Vista problem, and in fact if you're using "hidden SSID" as a
security measure you might as well stop, turn broadcast back on and all your
adapters will be happier with you for doing so.

As Kevin points out this is a driver issue and can easily be reproduced on
Windows 2000 and Windows XP. So stop hiding the SSID and let the system
work as it was designed to.

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Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
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